Suspended Arab-Israeli Lawmakers Blast “Netanyahu’s Incitement”

Three Arab Israeli lawmakers who were suspended from attending the plenum and committees for up to four months blasted Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, saying the incident was proof of his “incitement against us.” The three infuriated Israelis when they appeared at an event said to have been intended to offer consolation to the families of Palestinians who have died while attacking Israelis – in many cases having killed or wounded their victims. Speaking to The Media Line, the head of the bloc of Arab parties insisted the event was not an act of consolation but an opportunity to lobby for Israel to return the bodies of those Palestinians who were killed to their families. Netanyahu had asked the attorney general to find appropriate legal recourse and parliament speaker Yuli Edelstein filed personal complaints against the three lawmakers. In addition, a new piece of legislation has been submitted that would allow members of parliament (Knesset) to be suspended if 90 out of the 120 legislators approve a bill to do so. The Joint Arab List, a bloc of four parties, became the third largest force in Knesset with 12 seats following the last election.